Child abuse cases reach record high in Jan.-June

TOKYO (Kyodo) — The number of child abuse cases investigated by police between January and June this year totaled 248 in Japan, the highest for the six-month period since records began in 2000, the National Police Agency said Thursday.

It marked an increase of 95 cases from the same period a year earlier. The number of abusers implicated in such cases reached 255 and that of victims came to 252, both record highs. Twelve of the victims died as a result of abuse.

Children in abuse cases which police reported to the public juvenile welfare centers increased 1,990 to 7,271. Of them, 3,634 children suffered psychological abuse which in most cases is not subject to criminal charges, such as exposure to abusive words and witnessing of domestic violence.

Child pornography cases investigated by police in the first half of 2012 increased by 127 to a record 764, with 612 suspects implicated, the police said.

Mainichi Japan, September 06, 2012
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